Introduction
Welcome to the JLPT N5 study guide at NihongoDoya. This page brings together every sentence pattern, particle and verb conjugation introduced across standard textbooks Book I (lessons 1–25), with worked examples, exam-style explanations and clear summaries on each lesson card. Whether you are revising for JLPT N5 or building Japanese from scratch, the cards above let you jump straight to the topic you need — and the linked Japanese word list and audio practice pages keep every pattern grounded in real speech.
What you will learn
- Use of は, が, を, に, で and へ in everyday sentences
- Polite forms: です / ます and their negative and past variants
- The basic て-form for requests, sequences and continuous actions
- Adjective conjugation (i-adjectives and na-adjectives)
- Counter words for people, days, hours, flat objects and more
- Question patterns with か, どう and time-related expressions
Who this level is for
This level is best for complete beginners who have already learned hiragana and katakana, and for self-study learners working toward the December or July JLPT N5 sitting. If you have studied kana for a week or two and want a structured path into Japanese, start here.
A useful weekly cycle for grammar study
- Read one unit on this page and copy the sentence pattern in your notebook.
- Drill three example sentences out loud, twice each.
- Match the unit with the related Japanese word list, learning ten new items.
- Listen to the unit on the matching audio practice page, first without the script, then with it.
- Review the previous unit for five minutes before moving on.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up は (topic) and が (subject) — choose は for known things, が for new or contrasting information.
- Forgetting that the te-form spelling changes by verb group, especially with っ and ん.
- Picking the wrong counter — Japanese uses different counters for people, flat items, machines and animals.
- Treating な-adjectives like い-adjectives when conjugating into negative or past form.
Related study materials
Build a joined-up study cycle by combining this page with the matching JLPT N5 grammar guide, the JLPT N5 Japanese word list and the JLPT N5 audio practice page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to finish the JLPT N5 grammar syllabus?
Most self-study learners cover the full JLPT N5 syllabus in three to six months at one standard textbooks lesson per week, with daily 30-minute sessions. Pair each lesson with the matching word list and audio scenes for the fastest retention.
Do I need to know kanji before starting N5 grammar?
No. You only need hiragana and katakana. The lesson cards above gradually introduce common kanji, and the matching Japanese word list page shows readings for every entry.
Can I use this guide alongside a class?
Yes — every unit follows the order of standard textbooks Book I, so it works as supplementary reading for classroom learners and as a primary resource for self-study.
Should I study Irodori Starter at the same time as N5?
Irodori Starter focuses on daily-life Japanese, while JLPT N5 focuses on exam structure. Many learners use both — N5 for testing and Irodori for talking.
What should I do after finishing this level?
Move to the JLPT N4 grammar guide, keep drilling N5 words for two more weeks, and start a weekly comprehension session using the matching audio practice page.